'I want to bow before your dignity': Pope Leo XIV delivers powerful message to migrants

Pope Leo XIV called for better treatment of migrants during a meeting with organizations working with migrants at the Port of Arguineguína in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Speaking to those gathered, the pontiff praised migrants for the sacrifices they made and said that they were not just numbers. "Dear migrants, before saying anything else to you, I want to bow before your dignity. You are not just numbers or files," he said. "You are people who have left behind families and homes. You have dreams that no one has the right to despise."

As per a transcript of the pontiff's address released by the Vatican, Pope Leo claimed that the story of the Holy Family of Nazareth was an all-time "model" for migrants who are forced to flee their homeland "out of fear, persecution or necessity." Sharing the address on X, Pope Leo issued a message to "those who take advantage of people’s desperation," urging them to stop and repent of such actions.

"Fear, indifference, and the violence of those who trade in human life must not have the final word," he said. "The final word belongs to Christ, who identifies with the stranger, touches the wounds of humanity, and calls us to recognize Him in every brother and sister who needs to be welcomed, protected, supported, and integrated. Let us lift our gaze to Him, without turning away from those who suffer."

The pontiff's message comes at a time when several countries around the globe have adopted hardline policies against immigration and immigrants, including the Pope's own homeland, the United States of America. The Trump administration's stance on immigration faced renewed criticism due to controversies surrounding the FIFA World Cup. It was recently revealed that a Somalian soccer referee was not allowed to enter the country over alleged terror ties, despite being one of the most respected soccer officials in Africa.

According to a report in the Washington Post, Pope Leo is the first pontiff in history to visit the Canary Islands, surrounded by waters where thousands of migrants lost their lives while making their way to Europe. Several European countries have also been cracking down on immigrants. Pope Leo said that European nations "cannot claim to uphold human dignity while growing accustomed to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic becoming unmarked graves." "Human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border," he added.